A tragic bus accident in Iran has claimed the lives of at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims, according to Iranian state media. The crash occurred on Tuesday night in the central province of Yazd, with preliminary investigations attributing the disaster to a defective braking system, as reported by Reuters.
The bus, carrying pilgrims from Sindh province en route to Iraq’s Karbala for Arbaeen, overturned and subsequently caught fire at the Dehshir-Taft checkpoint, located approximately 681 kilometers (423 miles) south of Tehran. The incident has also left 23 passengers injured, 14 of whom are in critical condition, as confirmed by Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu.
Local media reports indicate that around 50 people were on the bus, including pilgrims from Larkana, Ghotki, and other cities in Sindh. The deceased include 11 women and 17 men. The crash was reportedly caused by a combination of factors including high speed, technical issues, and driver error.
In response to the tragedy, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has mobilized the foreign ministry to repatriate the bodies and aid the injured. Interior Minister Moshin Naqvi expressed deep sorrow over the loss, and the Pakistan consulate in Iran is assisting with recovery efforts.
Iran’s poor traffic safety record has been noted as a contributing factor to the accident, with ongoing UN projects aiming to address these issues. The pilgrims were en route to Karbala to participate in Arbaeen, a significant Shia pilgrimage marking the end of 40 days of mourning for Imam Hussein, a pivotal figure in Islamic history.
Arbaeen attracts millions of pilgrims annually, making it one of the largest religious gatherings globally, surpassing even the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in participation numbers.
